ABOUT BTD

OUR STORY

WHY WE STARTED beyond the diamond

BTD was built out of a simple belief: that every serious baseball and softball athlete deserves access to elite-level coaching and technology, not just the ones at big programs with big budgets. Alonso Ruz founded Beyond the Diamond Performance in Manassas, Virginia to change what athlete development looks like at the local level. No gimmicks. No generic drills. Just data-backed training that actually moves the needle.

Alonso Ruz didn't start Beyond the Diamond Performance because it was a good business idea. He started it because he saw a gap that needed to be filled.
Growing up around the game, Alonso watched talented athletes plateau not because they lacked ability, but because they lacked access. Access to quality coaching. Access to real performance data. Access to the kind of training infrastructure that serious athletic development actually requires. That gap existed right here in Northern Virginia, and BTD was built to close it.
The vision was straightforward from the start: build a facility where every athlete, regardless of their program size or budget, could train with the same technology and coaching methodology used at the highest levels of baseball and softball. Where progress wasn't measured by how many swings you took, but by what the data said about each one.
That meant investing in HitTrax, Blast Motion, and Win Reality from day one. It meant building programs around individual athlete data rather than generic drills. It meant coaching with precision instead of opinion, and holding every session to a standard that actually moves athletes forward.
BTD is still that facility. Every athlete who walks through the door gets the same commitment: honest coaching, real data, and a plan built specifically around what they need to reach their next level. That was the promise when BTD opened, and it's the same promise today.

OUR FOCUS

BTD exists to develop complete athletes. That means working on mechanics, movement, mental approach, and physical conditioning as one connected system, not a set of isolated skills. Every program we run is built around measurable outcomes because we believe athletes deserve to know their training is working.

OUR MISSION

To give every athlete in the Northern Virginia area access to the same technology and coaching methodology used at the highest levels of the game. We build programs around data, deliver them with intention, and measure success one rep at a time.

OUR ATHLETES

WHO WE SERVE

At BTD, we work with athletes at every stage of their development journey. Whether you're a youth player building your foundation or a high school athlete fighting for a college roster spot, there's a program built for where you are right now.

► Youth athletes (ages 8+)
► Travel ball players
► High school competitors
► College-bound athletes

► Baseball players
► Softball players
► Two-sport athletes
► Off-season developers

Schedule a Consultation

Group of children and teens in a gym with black walls, some with caps and sports gear, standing in front of gym equipment and baseball-themed artwork.

PROVEN RESULTS

OUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS

500+

Athletes Trained

From youth players to high school competitors, BTD has helped athletes across Northern Virginia build the skills, data, and confidence to compete at their next level.

99%

COLLEGE PLACEMENTS

BTD athletes have gone on to compete at the collegiate level. The website, the coaching, and the data all work together to make that happen.

3

Data Technologies in Every Program

HitTrax, Blast Motion, and Win Reality are built into how BTD coaches. Every athlete trains with the same technology used at the highest levels of the game.

MEET THE TEAM

alonso Ruz

Owner & Coach
Alonso Ruz Vera is a dedicated baseball professional, coach, and performance specialist driven by a lifelong passion for the game. Originally from Venezuela, his journey with baseball goes far beyond competition—it represents discipline, opportunity, and purpose. That foundation continues to shape his mission today: helping athletes grow both on and off the field.
A former collegiate player with four years of experience at the college level, Alonso understands firsthand the demands of high-level competition. He combines that playing background with a strong academic foundation, holding a degree in Sport Management and a Master’s in Exercise Science and Nutrition, allowing him to bridge the gap between performance training and real game results.
As the founder of Beyond The Diamond Performance, Alonso has built a results-driven environment focused on developing complete athletes through hitting, strength, speed, and mental approach. He has worked with players across all levels, from youth to college, emphasizing efficient movement, consistency, and translating training into in-game success.
Alonso’s coaching philosophy centers on preparation, accountability, and confidence—teaching athletes not just how to train, but how to compete. For him, baseball is more than a game it’s a platform to impact lives, build character, and create opportunities for the next generation.
COACH RAUL

Coach
Coach Raul Rodriguez is an experienced baseball coach with a strong playing background at a high level in both Venezuela and Mexico. His time competing in highly competitive environments has given him a deep understanding of the game and a disciplined, detail-oriented approach to player development.
Over the past five years, Raul has worked alongside Alonso Ruz Vera at Beyond The Diamond Performance, helping develop athletes across all levels. He specializes in fundamentals, game awareness, and position-specific training, with a focus on building consistent, confident players.
Coach Raul brings passion, knowledge, and a commitment to doing things the right way, helping athletes not only improve their skills but also understand how to compete and succeed on the field.